Harmful Airborne Contaminants That Lurks In The Offices
Ever experienced an episode of sudden sneezing in the office, even when you wake up strong and ready to take on the world? You were absolutely sure that you felt indomitable minutes ago, until you stepped into the office and the series of sneezing took away whatever strength you had, leaving you fatigued and listless. We usually dismiss the thoughts of getting a cold from the office since it is indoor, but think again.
Many researches have proven in many ways that pollution can happen indoors as well. Just because we can’t taste, smell or see it, does not mean pollution is not present indoors. According to the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), indoor air pollution can be between two and five times greater than the outdoors!
The majority of indoor air pollution is caused by the seemingly harmless appliance we cool ourselves with in the office – the air conditioner. The appliance blows out air drawn from the outdoors and circulates it internally within the enclosed area. Any contaminants or chemical emission may also be drawn in as a result.
We, as humans, are also a source of pollution. With every breath, we also contribute an awful lot of harmful particles to the indoor air quality. Imagine the impact humans have on the air quality within an office, with groups of employees streaming in on a daily basis. A few infectious diseases have been shown to spread through means of aerosol transmission, which is a lesson we should learn from. When combined with air conditioning, the enclosed area serves as a hotspot for transmission.
However, reducing the indoor pollutants can be done through a series of thorough office cleaning and sanitation works to human contact points. Indoor air conditioning needs to be retrofitted with filters capable of trapping contaminants, it should also be serviced and maintained regularly to ensure that it remains in an optimal working condition. To find a filter that best fits your office, refer to the filter MERV Rating (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values). Regular professional office cleaning services also help in eliminating non-airborne contaminants and those that have settled onto surfaces. All surfaces in the office, especially those that are exposed to frequent human contact, should also be sanitised religiously.
Even with all these precautions in place, we can only minimise the amount of pollutants we breathe in at work. Maintaining your personal hygiene is still key.
Work in a safer environment with better air quality by engaging the help of our professional office cleaning services today.
